Tennessee Volunteers: 98’ never felt quite like this
When Tennessee was last on top of college football, Tee Martin was a young QB balling for the Vols and Josh Heupel was the starting QB at Snow College. Having just come off of the Peyton Manning era in Knoxville, expectations were high and Phillip Fulmer’s men delivered. A win over Florida State gave Tennessee its last national title. Now Heupel is HC and with his young stud in Hendon Hooker, a National title no longer seems out of reach. The title in 98 was built on decades of success. This team is built on short term transfers and a desire not felt at Neyland in a long time.
I said it once and I’ll say it again. Hendon Hooker is what people think Will Levis is. On a night when the lights shined bright and Heisman winner Bryce Young was in the midst of writing his own Heisman moment, Hendon Hooker showed the country who is College Football’s QB1.
The Virginia Tech transfer came into a situation in Knoxville where he was somewhere between QB 2 and QB 3 with fellow transfer Joe Milton and highly touted recruit Harrison Bailey fighting for love from Josh Heupel as the Vols hoped his no huddle offense would ignite the offensive production unseen under Jeremy Pruitt, rarely seen under Butch Jones and not even remotely close to being seen under Derek Dooley. In his 3 years in Knoxville, Hooker has established himself from a mid level SEC QB to the man who beat the man. His poise in the pocket while running such a mentally and physically straining offense is a testament to his talent, ability, hard work and intelligence. When Hooker is on, he’s on and you’ll find it hard to find a defense that can turn him off.
When Josh Heupel took over the Vols program, he found it in a state of disrepair. Pruitt was fired and under NCAA investigation. National Championship HC and then AD Phillip Fulmer left the AD position in disgrace and half of his roster transferred. To top that off, it was the COVID year and Tennessee to that point had failed to reach an SEC Championship game since 2007. A program in disrepair who were considered automatic Ws for the SEC elite now finds themselves as the most dangerous team in America. Heupel has a prolific, balanced offensive attack backed by an aggressive defense who seems to get stops when they absolutely need to. His 6-0 start with wins on the road at ranked Pitt, against arch rival Florida and now Alabama have solidified his and his offensive styles’ place among college football’s finest minds.
Despite losing multiple key players, the Vols have kept it together through their sheer love for one another and their will. Bru McCoy has finally found the stability to show off the skills that made him such a highly touted prospect coming out of High School, Jaylen Wright is one missed tackle from daylight, Jabari Small is a versatile weapon who is dangerous as a pure runner and Jalin Hyatt put up video game numbers in today’s victory. A core that will only get better with Cedric Tillman’s return.
There’s still a long road to Atlanta and the CFP. Ole Miss is undefeated, Alabama is still the favorite to win the SEC West and defending National Champion Georgia is the big dog in the division. However this team is special. 2019 LSU special, 2006 Florida Gators special. Today was a statement to all of America. The guard may not be changing but a new player has come to the table. This win in this place with these fans are the stuff recruits dream of. This offense excited the pallet, this defense makes you want to run through a wall. The road for the later end of the 2020s will run through Knoxville and I can’t wait to watch. 98 ain’t feel like this.
